woensdag 26 september 2018

Which supplements I take - B12, Omega-3…?




For a long time (well since beginning of 2014), I’ve been hoping of not needing any supplements like I describe here. Also the fact that athletes like Tim Van Orden, used to live without from what I understood, encouraged me in exploring that as well. In this post here, I also mention that I do a yearly checkup of my blood, since I’ve to go for a yearly positive sport attest for competition to the general practitioner in any way.

On these tests, my cholesterol was

2014          2015          2016          2017          2018
170 mg/dl   144 mg/dl   161 mg/dl   150 mg/dl   171 mg/dl
It’s only in 2016, so after 2 years, that I asked to do a more detailed analyses because of my food changing habits on things like proteins, calcium, Vitamin D...and of course the very famous Vitamin B12.

Proteins

2016          2017
73 g/L         75g/L

Calcium

2016          2017
9,6 mg/dL   9,6mg/dL

Vitamin D

2015          2016          2017          2018
44,4 ng/mL 39,5 ng/mL 43,8 ng/mL  39,7 ng/mL

Vitamin B12

2016          2017          2018
187 ng/L     183 ng/L     489 ng/L

It is mainly the B12, which turn out to be not so good after the check in 2016. So I did some research about B12 and found out it to be a bacteria. It disappeared, because we clean our vegetables too heavily and eliminate the bacteria. Cows get it from the grass that they graze in the meadow on which there is some poop. (funny story, since the amount of meat that we’ve to produce at an incredible speed (because of the demand) cows stay in a stable and don’t get out, so they miss on B12 as well, and so we provide supplements to cows to have their B12, which then humans eat…). If I would graze I would get it as well, bwa...not an option for me. So maybe if I eat the vegetables out of my garden just like dry cleaned, I could get it, which is what I tried in 2017. For radish, carrots, beets, salads… I would eat them just dry cleaned out of my organic garden. Unfortunately the next blood test showed that is was not really a success. My normal general practitioner subscribed me some injections to fix it, I didn’t like the approach, would not do it and so in 2018, I decide to take some Vitamin B12.

Which one would be good for me?

By doing some research, I found out that there are 2 sorts, methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin. I found out that cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form of vitamin B12 that is not found in nature, now it’s considered to be more stable and cost-effective. My health has no price, even though methylcobalamin seemed to be more sensitive and higher priced, I decided that, that was the way to go for me. The next step is, which brand?

For me, it has to be as natural as possible, containing no sugar, being vegan, so that I know it is a sustainable product for the future and it should also be pastille for under my tongue (not one to chew or to eat) so that it melts and goes directly into my blood veins.

Europe seemed to be not very easy for that, it’s at Whole Food Markets in the US that I easily found;


I would take it in the morning, after just a glass of water and a glass of lemon water with ginger. I would brush my teeth and a few minutes later set it under my tongue, letting it melt and not eating anything else for the next 30 minutes (although eating should normally not have any influence since food doesn’t go directly into my veins). I took them almost daily (sometimes forgetting a few days or so), now seen the results of my B12 in 2018, I had a plan that finally worked, unfortunately it included starting to take supplements which I had tried to avoid as long as I could (I find the fact of having to take supplements a failure of humanity in his connection with nature).

Till 2017, I used to do these blood tests at my, for long period general practitioner, who was not always pleased with my food changing habits. After these test I went to a new general practitioner, who eats +- the same as I do, and would respect and advise more in my direction of lifestyle.

The general practitioner looked to all the values from previous years, found them good and just recommended to take some Omega-3 as well, and do a Omega-3 test before I do my checkup in 2018. The test is something anyone can do at home and get the results by email afterwards, more info on http://www.omega-3-index.com/.

When I asked for how long I had to take that Omega-3, the answer was, the rest of your life.

That didn’t please me at all, I really saw an image in front of me of those old people with a big box, with every day of the week on it and all kinds of medicines in it. I don’t want to end up like that…

I did some research on Omega-3 and realised that it could be found in Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds, Walnuts, Seaweed… From my point of view I would not take that Omega-3 supplement and would just increase my intake of these natural products. So I did the test without taking any supplements and the results ended up to be a failure again for myself. My Omega-3 Omega-6 balance turned out to be very bad. My new general practitioner didn’t understand that my values would be so bad after the program provided. When I said that I didn’t follow the program, all made sense and proved that I would not be able to get it via natural intake. Probably the confirmation I was looking for.

So out of this Omega-3 test in 2018, I decide to take some Omega-3 supplements, the same question would rise again, which one would be good for me?

Again, for me, it has to be as natural as possible, containing ideally, no sugar, being vegan, so that I know it is a sustainable product for the future and it should be easy for my body to assimilate. Apparently from what I found out, Omega-3 is not so sensitive as B12 and can be taken while eating.

I found 2 that would fit my criteria, being Vegetology and Norsan Omega.


The Norsan Omega had a higher concentration, looked like easy to assimilate so to start off, I decided to move on with that one. Will continue with it till my new test in 2019 and will then depend on the result decide on how to move on.

As a summary, my experience with truth for me, shows unfortunately that I do have to take some supplements.

Apparently Vitamin B12, Omega-3 and Vitamin D are the 3 important once to care about.

B12 locally in Belgium there is PureB B12, normally available on order at any pharmacy.


Other source to buy online are
In any way, daily dose is 1000 microgram.

For Omega-3 locally, I couldn’t find anything suiting my needs, and found these to buy online
The start off for Omega-3 for me with Norsan Omega, is 1,5 teaspoon a day during 2 months and then 0,5 teaspoon a day for the future.

I hope my discovery of my truth, can help you in finding yours and I would love to hear about it!

Feel free to reach out and if there are better local sources of B12 and Omega-3 in Belgium, please do let me know, since that is a continued search for me.


‘I’ve a dream that one day humanity will not need supplements anymore and have completely found again the real connection with nature’.



#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #nosupplements #TimVanOrden #yearlybloodcheckup #nocholesterol #goodproteines #calcium #VitamineD #VitaminB12 #B12 #B12methylcobalamin #Omega3 #Omega3test #omega3index #Flaxseeds #ChiaSeeds #Walnuts #Seaweed #Omega6 #Vegetology #NorsanOmega #PureB #solgar #jarrow #vitabay #norsanomega #vegetology #Iveadream
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donderdag 20 september 2018

Freedom - Detachment from material and possessions


In what could well be called my previous life, I was unconsciously obsessed with material and possessions. It was my clothes, my toys, my food, my bicycle, my motorbike, my car, my house... and it was not always easy to share some of it, if it was even possible.

I hold on so much to them, that I would do everything I can to make sure they stay in my possession as long as possible. I would set things on dedicated places, so I was sure not many people would find them. I would buy locks, that take even with specialised tools a long time to open. I would be a maniac of alarm systems and no insurance would be good enough to make sure I don't lose anything.


It would cost me a lot of money to buy the material and possessions, even more to insure them and the fear to at some point lose it would be hard to live with. So why is that, why can I not just let go and accept?

Looking back to it today, it all looks like to do with the energy levels. I used to throw dead, artificial and low energy food in myself. How can I expect with such a crap in my body to feel positive things? I didn't feel anything at all, it was just as the world was against me, I was what I had, and had to protect all that, before I would die, when I would potentially lose them.


When I started to change my food habits like I describe here, it honestly really felt like I was throwing new energy in my body. It felt as if my body was in sync and found a connection with nature. Might be normal if I eat whole food plants and fruits, that nature provides to us...

I started to enjoy a new sort of freedom that I had never experienced before. I was me in who I was and don’t need anything else for that.


My clothes are just things that I use to cover myself, like culturally predefined, where I live on earth. I kept only those in which I felt really good, knew they were fair-trade and ideally with messages that I support. Nothing related anymore with brands that I really need to have, otherwise I'm a failure like I used to think before. If I would lose them all, it will be a good time for a cleanup. The only 3 exceptions for me personally, are Burton (although they have some ethical and fair trade items) for snowboard, Dainese for protection, safety clothes and Nike for my basketball shoes, all the rest I buy only what I need, ideally local, ethical, fair-trade and from natural materials.


My toys, they are just toys, it is the way I think about them, that makes them the way I think about them. If I remove the thinking and emotional side around, they are just replaceable toys.

My motorbike, was definitely part of the toys, now seen its size and value, I've always seen it as something special. I enjoyed and still enjoy riding the motorbike. The sensation is so special and it is one of these things that goes above what nature normally provide me. It's artificial and the price to pay for the sensation makes its lose it attraction today for me. I've also today from a naturalistic point of view, sensations that are much stronger than the motorbike. The only thing that is irreplaceable, are the great moments we spent together with the friends, now today I realise that the motorbike is not a must for that. It helped back in the days.


My car, is just an object to move me from one point to another slightly faster. Is it necessary that my life goes so fast? Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, the majority of the time I just don't know.

My house, is the place where the family is and where I'm trying to build a further connection with nature. I love it there, now together with the family, I'm sure we can create a home at a different location, just like so many animals do.


My food is very precious to me, I'm so grateful for the energy it provides me. I love to eat, I love to eat as much as my body tells me to do so. Something that changed completely, is that it is also a pleasure to share it or even make it for someone else. This is something very difficult before, sharing things I craved and for which I had no energy to make them myself.

Everything is temporary in life, it's moving energy, nothing is mine and in all, we find the beauty of nature that provide us everything we need.

As humans, we managed to create negative energy out of nature and we have become specialist in making us crave these negative energies.

Changing my intake of energy via different food (whole food plants and fruits), made me realise it and slowly and surely move away from it.


Great video and article on the subject by Leo Babauta



https://zenhabits.net/letgo-possessions/


#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #freedom #giveupfear #change #zenhabits #leobabauta
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dinsdag 11 september 2018

Comment allez-vous créer un meilleur Beauvechain, Demain?



Comme je l’ai décrit sur mon poste précédent concernant Beauvechain, j’adore Beauvechain et il y a beaucoup d'initiatives qui sont magnifiques pour un meilleur demain. Par contre, je clôture en écrivant que tout n’est pas génial et comme dans tout, il y a toujours moyen de faire mieux.

Le mieux vient si on change quelque chose.
En tant qu'être humain, je n’aime pas trop le changement.
Par contre, il y a une vérité; ‘si je ne change rien, rien ne changera’.


Pour prendre l'exemple de la santé, souvent quand je suis malade, je me dis, j'espère guérir vite et me retrouver dans le même état que j’étais juste avant de tomber malade, ce serait parfait.
Est-ce que cette situation juste avant était vraiment parfaite?
Elle a pourtant résulté en une maladie?
Avant que je ne réalise ça, c'était souvent mon souhait.
Et donc chaque année, au même moment, dans les mêmes circonstances, j’avais exactement les mêmes maladies.
C’est bien non?
En tant qu'être humain comme je n’aime pas trop le changement, au moins c’était tout le temps la même chose.
Parfois des autres maladies s’y rajoutaient, et là c'était moins drôle.
Il y avait du changement, je finissais par les accepter et elles commençaient à faire partie du cercle elles aussi.

Et puis au moment où j’ai très progressivement changé ma façon de manger (plus de détails ici, instruction pour le lire en français ici), j’ai commencé à voir autre chose que des maladies, de chouettes choses se sont rajoutées que j’ignorais auparavant (plus de détails ici, instruction pour le lire en français ici).
J’ai trouvé ça dingue que pendant 35 ans, j’ai suivi des protocoles innés de notre culture avec que des maladies qui si rajoutaient.
Et qu'avec de simples changements, j’ai pu voir des résultats incroyables.

J’ai ce pouvoir en moi (comme tout le monde) pour changer, pour progresser, d'abord sur moi-même, en inspirant mon entourage.
Y a-t-il une limite à ça?

Comme Barak Obama (le président des États-Unis) l’a si joliment dit;

‘le changement ne viendra pas si nous attendons une autre personne ou un autre moment. Nous sommes ceux que nous attendions. Nous sommes le changement que nous cherchons’.

Pour en revenir au titre; ‘comment est-ce que je vais créer un meilleur Beauvechain demain?




C'est une des questions que je me pose presque tous les jours.
Une des réponses que j’ai déjà trouvées, est d’être la meilleure version de moi-même.
Comme les Pensées d’Héloïse, SC Beauvechain, mon panier bio, Le potager d’Élise, Yoga Santosha, Run 4 Fun, les fêtes de la Saint-Martin, Théâtre des 4 mains, L’Envol du Colibri...et bien d'autres dans Beauvechain, être la meilleure version de moi-même et créer quelque chose qui peut faire des petits ou grands changements positifs.

Moi je ne suis pas un créateur, moi je suis plutôt quelqu’un qui suis et de toute façon je ne sais rien changer …

Je ne ‘sais’ rien changer, ou je ne ‘veux’ rien changer?

Certain de savoir ce que c’est, car je répète; ‘si je ne change rien, rien ne changera’.

Je suis obligé de voter en Belgique, personnellement je trouve ça bien.
Ca m'oblige à sortir de ma bulle, faire ma part, contribuer à ce qu’il va se passer dans le futur et je suis complètement libre de faire ce que je veux.
N’est-ce pas génial?

Comme peut-être lu sur mon blog, j’aime tous les espèces vivantes!

Oui, vous qui lisez cet article, je vous aime.
Oui, vous qui ne lisez pas cet article, je vous aime.
Oui, vous qui vivez dans la nature tout le temps, je vous aime.
Oui, vous qui vivez d’une façon si différente de nous, je vous aime.
Oui, vous qui me détester, je vous aime.
...

Et donc, Oui j’aime les gens qui font de la politique et je trouve qu’ils font du bon travail (j’essaye de leur dire régulièrement quand j’en ai l'occasion).

Jusqu’à ce que je change ma façon de manger, je détestais le changement comme expliqué ci-dessus et je votais donc toujours pour les mêmes personnes que je connaissais peu importe leur programme.
J’avais surtout peur de ce qui allait se passer avec le changement qui commençait chez moi.
Comme je l'ignorais, en tant qu'être humain, forcément, je m’imaginais le pire.

En 2014, la vie m’a montré que j’avais tort, il y a aussi des choses positives qui se cachent derrière un changement.
J’avais du mal à l’accepter, peut-être que ce petit film ci-dessous peut aider aussi comme ça l'a été pour moi.




L'histoire traduite, ‘Peut-être’.

Il y a une histoire taoïste d'un vieux fermier qui travaillait depuis de nombreuses années. Un jour, son cheval s'est enfui. En entendant la nouvelle, ses voisins sont venus lui rendre visite. "Une telle malchance", ont-ils dite avec sympathie. "Peut-être", a répondu l'agriculteur.

Le lendemain matin, le cheval revint avec trois autres chevaux sauvages. "Comme c'est merveilleux", s'exclamèrent les voisins. "Peut-être", répondit le vieil homme.

Le lendemain, son fils a essayé de monter sur l'un des chevaux sauvages, a été jeté et s'est cassé la jambe. Les voisins revinrent offrir leur sympathie pour son malheur. "Peut-être", répondit le fermier.

Le lendemain, des responsables militaires sont venus au village pour faire entrer des jeunes hommes dans l'armée. Voyant que la jambe du fils était cassée, ils l'ont dépassé. Les voisins ont félicité l'agriculteur pour la qualité des choses. "Peut-être", a déclaré le fermier.


Eh oui, même de petits gestes comme d’aller voter font que chacun sait faire sa part pour un meilleur demain, bien sûr sans certitude.
De toute façon, réellement, qu’est-ce qui est une certitude?
Et c’est peut-être réellement la beauté de la vie.

Personnellement, j’ai lu les programmes électoraux disponibles, ils disent tous d'être à l'écoute des citoyens, ils adressent tous les manquements bien connus...il n’y a pas de réelles surprises. Logique, vu qu’avant je n’aimais pas le changement. S'ils veulent comme avant que je vote pour eux, il vaut mieux ne pas avoir de grands changements.



Aujourd’hui, je n’ai plus peur du changement et je fais ma part pour ce qui est ma définition, d’un meilleur demain. Comme je l’ai dit ici, les pesticides pour l’avenir m'embêtent réellement.
Et bien en cherchant un peu, je l’ai trouvé, en tout petit dans un programme.

Pour avoir une plante, il faut commencer par planter une petite graine.

Donc aujourd’hui je change mes habitudes, je colorerais juste une autre bulle le 14 octobre. Je donne de l’eau à la petite graine qui verra un Beauvechain sans pesticide et avec une plus grande connexion avec la nature!

Peut-être…

En tout cas, ‘‘si je ne change rien, rien ne changera’.


Comment allez-vous créer un meilleur Beauvechain demain?


#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #freedom #Beauvechain #Peutetre #changement #unmeilleurdemain #sijenechangerienriennechangera #progressivementchangéfaçondemanger #BarakObama #Noussommeslechangementquenouscherchons #demainlefilm #lesPenséesdHéloïse #SCBeauvechain #monpanierbio #LepotagerdÉlise #YogaSantosha #Run4Fun #lesfêtesdelaSaintMartin #Théâtredes4mains #Lenvolducolibri #changementspositive #jevousaime #Peutêtre #histoiretaoïstedunvieuxfermier #petitegraine #meilleurBeauvechain
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woensdag 5 september 2018

My relation with alcohol !


Since my first contact with alcohol as a teenager, I’ve always seen the duality in it. The use of it can be extremely pleasurable, just like it can be extremely sad, the border between the 2, is sometimes very small and quite often uncontrollable.

I’ve never really liked beer, now I surely was all in as a teenager for the feeling and sensations it provided. Quite fast it translated into things like Porto and such, which were cheap and provided the sensation and feeling I was looking for pretty fast.


Today I realize that the sensation and feeling, is basically being myself, and speak openly and freely without barrier. And it definitely looks like that sort of freedom is one of the major attractions of alcohol for me.

I very well remember regularly with great friends playing what James Ford from the series ‘LOST’, called the ‘Sawyer Game’. A way he described as ‘of getting to know each other'. A player says 'I never' and then finishes the sentence with a statement about themselves. If any of the other players did do the described action, then they must drink. However, this also includes the questioner, so one must weigh up whether to ask a very insightful and personal question against the fact that they might also have to drink. Players switch the role of questioner between them.


I liked these conversations very much, they were pure, honest, without a barrier, non judgmental and quite often very funny. I understood why people might quite fast get addicted to alcohol.

With my food changing habits, one of the effects I started to have, is that I felt much more aligned with my inner self. By that, I mean that, I became very acceptable in how I am, how I feel and what I think. I’m very open about everything and have really no shame for anything however. So today, thanks to the food I eat, I can really feel the freedom that I typically used to have after a few glasses of alcohol.


It was really an amazing discovery. I still from time to time drink a glass of wine for the tasting or social experience, now if I don’t get it, I’m fine as well and it doesn’t change anything for the moment at all.

The discovery for myself is that, I can today have conversations that are pure, honest, without a barrier, non judgmental and still often very funny, without having to drink alcohol for that.

I really enjoy every second of my life and not only the moments when I used to drink alcohol like quite often was the case before.


I also clearly feel that alcohol is like one of the worst products, I can have my body try to handle when I drink it.

I clearly am not attracted to it anymore, drink occasionally (maybe once a month) a glass of wine, enjoy it for the 100% and don’t require anything else from it.

Again a great discovery via food, how to feel amazing all the time without needing drugs for it!


#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #freedom #feelgreatallthetime #nodrugs
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maandag 3 september 2018

Plant-based and vegan concepts from Belgium @ 'Salon Valériane Namur' 2018



I love to visit these events, shows, fairs, exhibitions... and discovering who is locally (in Belgium) active with plant-based or vegan proposals of new products or concepts.

Some I might even already be buying today in the organic store and have no idea that it is from Belgium.

Here is an overview of my discovery at the organic fair 'Salon Valériane Namur'.

 Women clothes - vegan, eco-responsible, organic, ethical and fair-trade.



Soon also men clothes - vegan, eco-responsible, organic, ethical and fair-trade.



Finest natural home linen



Vegan spreads from BERICH by "De Plant-Aardige Kok'.



Vegan spreads from BERICH by "De Plant-Aardige Kok'.



Vegan spreads from BERICH by "De Plant-Aardige Kok'.



Vegan spreads from BERICH by "De Plant-Aardige Kok'.



Vegan yoghurt -> yogonut!



Vegan yoghurt -> yogonut!



Juices



Juices



Cold brewed coffee



Cookies





Cookies



Cookies



Cookies (attention only the 2 on the picture are vegan)



Seitan & Tofu


http://maya-seitan.be/

Seitan & Tofu





Seitan & Tofu



Maya Seitan has also Vegan Brownie!



Ice-cream...do we really need eggs in 'Amande' & 'Ail amande' flavors?



Ice-cream...do we really need eggs in 'Amande' & 'Ail amande' flavors?



Not directly related to the subject, now great tips and tricks for your own organic garden!






#peace #plantbased #local #Belgium #vegan #VeganBelgium #organic #SalonValérianeNamur #lenvolducolibri #kalanihome #BERICH #DePlantAardigeKok #yogonut #pepins #livup #lesboudines #blooom #generous #mayaseitan #floresice #adalia
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